Jeff Bobo

ROGERSVILLE — A Grainger County man was arrested Friday night at Cherokee Raceway Park near Rogersville after his ex-girlfriend claimed she’d been taken to the drag strip against her will, possibly to be murdered and dumped.

Curtis Eugene Collins told police he hadn’t made threats or taken his ex against her will. He claimed she was angry because she didn’t want to go to the drag strip that night.

By the time the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office had it sorted out, Collins, 23, of Rutledge, was charged with violation of an order of protection.

The victim was referred to the Grainger County Sheriff’s Office for incidents that allegedly occurred in that county.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Friday, HCSO Deputy Michael Lipe was dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Race Track Road near the drag strip west of Rogersville.

McKenzie Skeen, 19, of Rutledge reportedly told Lipe that her ex-boyfriend, Collins, took her and her car from her residence against her will.

“She stated that Curtis told her he was going to kill her and was driving around looking for a place to dump her body out,” Lipe stated in his report. “McKenzie stated that Curtis drove her to the race track on Drag Strip Road, and that’s when she got out of the car and ran to 117 Race Track Road and called 911. McKenzie stated that she was in fear that he was going to do bodily harm to her.”

Lipe said he found Collins at the drag strip entrance.

Collins reportedly stated that Skeen was upset because she didn’t want to go to the drag strip.

A computer check revealed an order of protection had been issued against Collins from Grainger County Sessions Court.

“Curtis stated he knew of the order and chose to be with McKenzie anyway,” Lipe said.

After his arrest, Collins had been held in the Hawkins County jail without bond until Wednesday, when he was arraigned in sessions court.

His bond was set at $1,000, and a Nov. 25 trial date was set. As of Wednesday afternoon, Collins had been released on bond.